Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Guanglei Cong Author-Workplace-Name: Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd, Taicang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Chunxue Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd, Taicang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agriculture University, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: Shuangshuang Xia Author-Workplace-Name: Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd, Taicang, P.R. China Author-Name: Junbo Li Author-Workplace-Name: Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd, Taicang, P.R. China Author-Name: Ifen Hung Author-Workplace-Name: Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd, Taicang, P.R. China Title: Effects of silymarin supplementation during late gestation on reproductive performance, haematological parameters, antioxidant status, and gut microbiota in sows Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of silymarin supplementation during late gestation on reproductive performance, haematological parameters, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota composition in sows. Twenty parity-4 crossbred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were enrolled and randomly allocated in parity blocks to either a control group (CG; n = 10, basal diet) or a silymarin-supplemented group (SIL; n = 10, basal diet + 200 mg/kg silymarin). The experimental period extended from day 85 of gestation to the completion of farrowing. The results demonstrated that dietary silymarin significantly reduced the number of stillbirths (P < 0.05), without exerting a significant effect on the total number and proportion of live-born piglets (P > 0.05). No notable differences were observed in haematological parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were significantly elevated in the silymarin group (P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a tendency to increase (P = 0.078). High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed 1 671 unique feature sequences in the silymarin group and 1 073 in the control group, with 1 600 sequences shared between the two groups. A trend towards increased dominance was observed in the silymarin group (P = 0.082), while both the Shannon and Simpson indices tended to decline (P = 0.087; P = 0.082), suggesting a possible reduction in microbial diversity. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of β-diversity revealed significant structural differences in gut microbiota between the two groups. SIMPER analysis identified Terrisporobacter as the principal genus contributing to these differences. In conclusion, silymarin supplementation during late gestation may enhance reproductive outcomes in sows, potentially through modulation of gut microbial composition and enhancement of systemic antioxidant status. Keywords: catalase, oxidative stress, silymarin, sow gut microbiota, stillbirth reduction, Terrisporobacter Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 480-488 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2025 File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-202511-0001_effects-of-silymarin-supplementation-during-late-gestation-on-reproductive-performance-haematological-paramete.php File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202511-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:11:id:84-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Francisco Sevilla Author-Workplace-Name: Doctorado en Ciencias Naturales para el Desarrollo (DOCINADE), Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional, Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Alajuela, Costa Rica Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Agronomy, Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture in the Humid Tropics, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, San Carlos Campus, Alajuela, Costa Rica Author-Name: Ignacio Araya-Zúñiga Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Agronomy, Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture in the Humid Tropics, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, San Carlos Campus, Alajuela, Costa Rica Author-Name: Patricia Cervantes-Acosta Author-Workplace-Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Master's in Animal Science Reproduction Biology, Biotechnology for Animal Health and Reproduction, Veracruz University, Veracruz, México Author-Name: Antonio Hernández-Beltrán Author-Workplace-Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Master's in Animal Science Reproduction Biology, Biotechnology for Animal Health and Reproduction, Veracruz University, Veracruz, México Author-Name: Manuel Barrientos Author-Workplace-Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Master's in Animal Science Reproduction Biology, Biotechnology for Animal Health and Reproduction, Veracruz University, Veracruz, México Author-Name: Belisario Domínguez Author-Workplace-Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Master's in Animal Science Reproduction Biology, Biotechnology for Animal Health and Reproduction, Veracruz University, Veracruz, México Author-Name: Anthony Valverde Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Agronomy, Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture in the Humid Tropics, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, San Carlos Campus, Alajuela, Costa Rica Title: Sperm quality improvement of cryopreserved boar semen through colloidal centrifugation gradient Abstract: Boar semen cryopreservation is limited due to the lower thermal shock resistance of sperm cells. A colloidal centrifugation gradient is an enhancement to cryopreservation that could improve the frozen boar semen quality. Cryopreserved boar semen quality was evaluated using a commercial colloidal centrifugation gradient. A total of 15 ejaculates from 5 boars were evaluated across two treatments: a control without colloidal centrifugation and a treatment with commercial colloidal centrifugation. A manual freezing method used two freezing curves in liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility was assessed by Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis, as well as sperm capacitation-like membrane destabilisation at 30 min and 150 min after thawing using Merocyanine 540 (M540) for samples incubated at 37 °C. Spectrophotometry measured lipid peroxidation indirectly by the amount of malondialdehyde; reactive oxygen species production was also determined for sperm samples incubated for 30 minutes. The gradient centrifugation treatment improved ejaculate sperm motility and membrane destabilisation. The proportion of morphologically normal sperm was higher in the gradient than in the control. A total of 74% of spermatozoa retained normal morphology. Lipid peroxidation was lower in the colloidal centrifugation treatment. MDA was lower with gradient (16.4 ± 2.5 vs 22.3 ± 2.5 µmol/30 × 106 sperm; P < 0.05). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and M540 positivity did not differ significantly between the treatments at either time point. The centrifugation process improved the quality parameters of frozen boar semen after thawing. Keywords: animal science, cryopreservation, frozen-thawed sperm, oxidative stress, reproduction Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 489-497 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/103/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/103/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202511-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:11:id:103-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Martina Pavesi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Author-Name: Giulia Gislon Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Author-Name: Serena Bonizzi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Author-Name: Stefania Colombini Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Author-Name: Nicola Palladini Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Author-Name: Maddalena Zucali Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy Title: Colostrum quality in Northern Italy: The role of dry cow nutrition and colostrum feeding management Abstract: This study investigated the effects of dry cow feeding on colostrum quality. A survey was conducted, and samples of colostrum and feed ingredients were collected from 25 dairy farms in Northern Italy. Colostrum was analysed for quality in terms of Brix value and gamma globulins, while diets and feed ingredients were analysed for their chemical constituents. The mean colostrum quality (n = 163) was 24.3 ± 4.41% Brix and 54.2 ± 20.8 g/l gamma globulin. The refractometer method effectively assessed colostrum quality, correlating accurately with laboratory gamma globulin measurements (R = 0.729). Factor analysis indicated that key nutrients, such as protein and fat daily intakes in dry cow diets, influenced colostrum immunoglobulin G. Furthermore, supplementation of selenium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and vitamin E also improved colostrum quality. Colostrum feeding occurred, on average, 5.44 ± 2.63 h post-calving, with a quantity of 2.74 ± 0.71 l per meal, which is below the recommended 10% of the calf body weight. However, the maximum feeding time was 12 h, and the minimum colostrum quantity was 1.25 l, highlighting considerable room for improvement. Keywords: Brix, calf management, dairy calves, gamma globulins Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 459-466 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/104/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/104/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202511-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:11:id:104-2025-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hana Nejeschlebová Author-Workplace-Name: Dairy Research Institute Ltd., Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Biotechnologies and Agricultural Products' Quality, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Oto Hanuš Author-Workplace-Name: Dairy Research Institute Ltd., Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Klára Bartáková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Origin Food and Gastronomic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Craig Parsons Author-Workplace-Name: Bentley Instruments, Inc., Chaska, Minnesota, USA Author-Name: Eva Samková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Biotechnologies and Agricultural Products' Quality, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lenka Vorlová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Origin Food and Gastronomic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Gavin Thompson Author-Workplace-Name: Bentley Czech Ltd., Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Lucie Hasoňová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Biotechnologies and Agricultural Products' Quality, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Roman Konečný Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavlína Navrátilová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Origin Food and Gastronomic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Marcela Klimešová Author-Workplace-Name: Dairy Research Institute Ltd., Prague, Czech Republic Title: Lactoferrin content determined in bovine milk by HPLC and mid-infrared spectrometry - Relation to udder health and potential for detection of milk adulteration Abstract: Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein linked to udder health in dairy cows. This study aimed to develop a calibration model for LF quantification using mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR-FT), with ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as the reference method. Two sets of individual milk samples (A: n = 120; B: n = 91) were collected from five dairy farms in the Czech Republic. Set A included a higher proportion of samples with somatic cell count (SCC) above 300 000 cells/ml to ensure broad LF variability. After merging both sets and removing six outliers, a final calibration set C (n = 205) was created. The developed model achieved a cross-validated coefficient of determination of 0.588 7 and a standard error of cross-validation of 67.33 mg/l. Correlation analysis showed that several milk parameters correlated with LF determined by MIR-FT in patterns typical of mastitis (SCC: r = 0.450; lactose: r = -0.364; free fatty acids: r = 0.621; electrical conductivity: r = 0.442), indicating potential for MIR-FT in evaluating mammary gland health. The feasibility of using LF as an indicator of milk adulteration by artificial SCC reduction through centrifugation was also assessed. Two sample sets (n = 20 and n = 68) were analysed, each containing normal bulk tank milk and bulk tank milk supplemented with abnormal milk. Centrifugation caused minimal changes in LF determined by both HPLC and MIR-FT (maximum 3.27%) while SCC decreased by nearly 50%, suggesting that LF may serve as a marker for detecting artificial SCC reduction. However, practical application of MIR-FT for accurate LF determination is limited by the achieved validation parameters and the high expanded uncertainty (114.7 mg/l). The method is therefore more suitable for monitoring relative LF changes in milk than for determining exact LF content. Keywords: calibration model, dairy cow, mastitis, milk centrifugation, milk composition, somatic cell count Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 467-479 Volume: 70 Issue: 11 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/114/2025-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/114/2025-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-202511-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:70:y:2025:i:11:id:114-2025-CJAS